Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Kamal v Tax Policy Associates: first ECCTA 2023 anti-SLAPP test case in England and Wales as Neidle seeks to strike out £8m libel claim

Published on: 17 February 2026

Published by a Law360 reporter

Legal News

Article summary

Neidle, who heads the think tank Tax Policy Associates, told the High Court that tax barrister Setu Kamal’s claim ought to be thrown out under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA 2023), which empowers courts to reject at an early stage proceedings amounting to strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs). He invited the court to characterise the suit as a SLAPP. Represented by 5RB’s Greg Callus, Neidle argued that Kamal — a sole practitioner and former member of Old Square Tax Chambers — issued the claim to suppress public-interest criticism that Neidle had made of him. Callus said Kamal’s clear purpose in his pre-action steps was to chill and interfere with Neidle’s freedom of expression, going beyond the lawful boundaries and remedies properly available through litigation...

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